Terry Gross

Terry shares her favorite New Year's song, called "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" It was written by Frank Loesser.

Film critic Stephen Schiff has a review of "Ready To Wear," Robert Altman's ensemble film about Paris fashion shows.

Humorist and NPR commentator David Sedaris charms us with "Santaland Diaries." The piece comes from Sedaris' book "Barrel Fever," and first ran on NPR's Morning Edition a few days before Christmas 1992. Even though Sedaris has achieved national fame and movie contracts for his humor writing, he still cleans apartments during the day, because, he says, he can only write at night.

Film critic Stephen Schiff has a review of Little Women, the latest of many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel.

We feature interviews with two people involved with the film "Heavenly Creatures." New Zealand director and writer Peter Jackson and co-screenwriter Frances Walsh. They have collaborated on two other films, "Dead Alive" a horror-movie spoof and "Meet The Feebles," a zombie film -- both of which have a cult following in their home country.

Byrne got his big break playing a slick gangster in the Coen Brothers' "Miller's Crossing." One reviewer wrote, "a subtle yet forceful performance as an impassive man, concealing deep pain." He was the executive producer of "In the Name of the Father," and also starred in and produced the films "A Dangerous Woman," and "Into the West." Byrne is now appearing as Prof. Baer in the remake of "Little Women," directed by Gillian Armstrong.

Whitaker is one of the most respected character actors in Hollywood, with a reputation for playibg roles that defy stereotypes associated with black actors. Whitaker was the British soldier kidnapped by the IRA in the "Crying Game." In "The Color of Money," he had a brief part as a pool hustler. He also starred in "Good Morning, Vietnam." His biggest starring role was portraying jazz great Charlie Parker in the movie, "Bird." Whitaker is currently co-starring in Robert Altman's new film, "Ready to Wear (Pret-A-Porter)."

Sportswriter Mark Bowden. He covered the Philadelphia Eagles for "The Philadelphia Inquirer" for three seasons, and now has a book about the team, "Bringing the Heat." It follows the team through the 1992 season, after their coach was fired and after the death of their star defensive lineman, Jerome Brown.

Musicians Ann Rabson, Gaye Adegbalola and Andra Faye McIntosh, who make up the blues group Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. The "Chicago Tribune" says "these women have [attitude] in abundance," in their songs about "domestic violence, self-respect and being a woman." Their fourth album is "Old, New, Borrowed & Blue."

Journalist Youseff Ibrahim, reporter at "The New York Times" since 1977. He has been the regional Middle East correspondent for the paper for seven years. He talks about the current debates among Arab intellectuals about the current political and cultural trends in the region.